Predicting which Tigers starters get booted from rotation after Jack Flaherty signing

The Tigers made a huge step toward serious contention in 2025 when they re-signed Jack Flaherty. While it shouldn't be the last big signing the Tigers make in what little time is left of the offseason (come on Alex Bregman — just sign somewhere already, dude), it clarified the picture for Detroit's rotation.

Before Flaherty, the Tigers had only three set starters: Tarik Skubal, Reese Olson, and Alex Cobb, and only one of those guys could really be depended upon to be both good and mostly (hopefully, knock on wood) healthy. Deciding who would take the last two spots was going to be left to spring training, with Keider Montero, Casey Mize, Kenta Maeda, and Jackson Jobe duking it out.

Flaherty's signing leaves just one open spot for Montero, Mize, Maeda, and Jobe to fight over. Four enter, one leaves.

There are pros and cons here across the board. Montero was a rookie last year with some very high highs (a complete game shutout) and low lows (he gave up five runs in 4 1/3 innings the start prior). Mize's future on the roster feels murky after yet another disappointing season also hampered by injury. Maeda was demoted to the bullpen after making 16 starts and logging a putrid 7.26 ERA. Jobe is still mostly untested at the major league level.

However, the choice for that last rotation spots seems clear. If Jobe isn't the Tigers' fifth starter in 2025, it'd be a shock.

3 Tigers pitchers don't stand a chance of making Opening Day rotation after Jack Flaherty signing

Jobe is MLB Pipelines No. 2 pitching prospect behind Roki Sasaki, and he was No. 1 last year. He was called up during the last few days of the regular season in 2024 and looked great through a few relief outings (though, to be fair, they were against the White Sox). He also pitched during the Wild Card series and did look a bit shaky, but the Tigers tasked the kid with postseason innings against the Astros when he'd barely gotten his feet wet against baseball's worst team.

The Tigers have to give Jobe a clear runway as a starter in the majors at some point, so the path forward here is clear. Montero could be a useful long relief arm in the bullpen, and Mize and Maeda might end up being semi-decent in the same capacity, but Jobe could be the AL Rookie of the Year if the Tigers give him a shot.

Although Detroit will probably still give all four a fair fight in spring training, Jobe should be the one who comes out on top.